Apple plans to break down the barriers between the Mac and HDTVs with its forthcoming OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion operating system update, which will bring the AirPlay Mirroring feature currently found on iOS to the Mac.

With AirPlay in Mountain Lion, users will be able to wirelessly broadcast and mirror their Mac desktop in high-definition to the Apple TV set-top box. It's the same ability iPad users have had for months, displaying everything users can do on their device onto the big screen.

It's yet another way that Apple is bringing features first pioneered on its iOS mobile operating system back to the Mac, a transition that began in earnest with the launch of OS X 10.7 Lion last July.

AirPlay Mirroring will allow users to transmit whatever is being displayed on their Mac to an HDTV connected to an Apple TV. That includes websites, videos, applications and anything else, all transmitted without the need for any cables or adapters.

AirPlay Mirroring for Mountain Lion will send a video stream with audio to an HDTV, and will even scale what's on a user's Mac to fit the screen appropriately. Apple has said that a sharper image is possible if a display resolution is chosen to match the 720p output of the Apple TV.

Keynote will also feature support for AirPlay Mirroring, which Apple has highlighted as an easier way to transmit presentations made in the Mac application to a big-screen HDTV.

Support for AirPlay Mirroring will also be found in the iMovie editing application for Mac. Users will be able to quickly display their just-completed movie to an HDTV where everyone can view it.

As it works with iOS, detection of an Apple TV is automatic in Mountain Lion, allowing users to quickly utilize AirPlay Mirroring without the need to set anything up. And the data sent over AirPlay is encrypted for security.

AirPlay Mirroring is already functional in the developer preview of Mountain Lion that was provided to members of Apple's Mac Developer Program on Thursday. The final version of Mountain Lion will be available for users to purchase on the Mac App Store late this summer.

Hopefully the airplay of the apple TV will be updated as to not restrict it to the 5 device limitation. I'd love for the ability to walk into an auditorium (I give a lot of presentations) and have it just work without having to worry about Apple ID authentication.

Hopefully the airplay of the apple TV will be updated as to not restrict it to the 5 device limitation. I'd love for the ability to walk into an auditorium (I give a lot of presentations) and have it just work without having to worry about Apple ID authentication.

What are you talking about?

I don't believe AirPlay requires the AppleTV to be registered in your Apple ID; it just needs to be on the same WiFi network.

I wonder what it also does for the up coming 'iTV' that isn't known yet? In all the chatter about the traditional TV makers regarding competing with the suspected new Apple 'iTV' on the basis of screen quality etc. the one thing that mustn't be forgotten is no one else can build a TV that literally becomes part of the Apple eco system and I mean iOS and OS X as well has Apple hardware. Even if Apple can only sell the iTV to existing Apple product owners ... that is one big market!

From Apple ][ - to new Mac Pro I've owned them all.Long on AAPL so biased"Google doesn't sell you anything, Google just sells you!"

I bet Apple will not make an HDTV, but will let you use your current living-room HDTV as just another display connected to Apple devices and ecosystem. AirPlay gets us closer. Watch for other software enhancements.

Hopefully the airplay of the apple TV will be updated as to not restrict it to the 5 device limitation. I'd love for the ability to walk into an auditorium (I give a lot of presentations) and have it just work without having to worry about Apple ID authentication.

That isn't a restriction now. All you need to airplay from a device to an Apple TV is to be on the same wifi network and the Airplay password if there is one

Quote:

Originally Posted by digitalclips

Even if Apple can only sell the iTV to existing Apple product owners ... that is one big market!

Apple is in the business of making money (shocking to consider I know). They would never knowingly create something that has a restricted market. IF they sell a tv this would be but one small feature in the system.

That said, I really think that Apple is going to shock the TV market by not making a TV. The Apple TV will stay a set top box with perhaps more of the viewing apps in the system and maybe inputs for Apple TV compatible blu-ray etc so you can control everything from one screen (the Apple TV one). And they might make a revamped Cinema Display line up with HMDI inputs and a larger than 27 inch size or two. then you could use it with your Apple TV, your computer and so on.

Apple is in the business of making money (shocking to consider I know). They would never knowingly create something that has a restricted market. IF they sell a tv this would be but one small feature in the system.

Hence I used the word 'Even' although I would not bet either way at this point. One thing I am willing to bet is that there will be a ton of features exclusive to the Apple eco system.

From Apple ][ - to new Mac Pro I've owned them all.Long on AAPL so biased"Google doesn't sell you anything, Google just sells you!"

This is all very nice and exciting. I wonder if there is some kind of negative feed back, that makes the AAPL stock plummeting.

The market didn't react to this announcement yet. Besides, the market doesn't understand the important of software announcements anyway. Be patient. The Nasdaq probably went down yesterday, but I'd bet when AAPL when through the roof people made a quick sell off to make some money. I should have done it myself, would have made a handy €4,000 if I bought back the same number of shares I have right now.

I wonder what it also does for the up coming 'iTV' that isn't known yet? In all the chatter about the traditional TV makers regarding competing with the suspected new Apple 'iTV' on the basis of screen quality etc. the one thing that mustn't be forgotten is no one else can build a TV that literally becomes part of the Apple eco system and I mean iOS and OS X as well has Apple hardware. Even if Apple can only sell the iTV to existing Apple product owners ... that is one big market!

I dream about iTV.

I dream of having an all-in-on TV + living room entertainment system from Apple powered by one remote. I've had this dream for 6 years now. It's going to be a long time coming, but it's one of the reasons for my recent AAPL buying sprees. That and the iPad. And the China retail expansion, especially. And the iPhone, the Mac, the App Stores and the ever increasing Apple drive towards simplification of our technology device lives, which in turn is I think the key to their strengthening brand globally.

With full computer mirroring is it now possible to mirror any video from the comp to your Apple tv regardless of format. For instance, if I have a .avi and perian installed, will I be able to mirror the video and audio to my Apple tv?

If so, this is absolutely huge.. no longer require my Xbox 360 to stream these file to my TV.

With full computer mirroring is it now possible to mirror any video from the comp to your Apple tv regardless of format. For instance, if I have a .avi and perian installed, will I be able to mirror the video and audio to my Apple tv?

Yes, you'd be mirroring the computer instead of a specific application that has restrictions on file formats.

Now they're really blurring the lines between the need for even creating a full-fledged Apple HDTV and just releasing a new and improved ATV box. I know this is not really on topic but it does beg the question.

If you have a Mac, why own a full Apple HDTV?
If you currently have an ATV, why bother with a full HDTV?

I know the TV will have much more living-room-type of features so i'll just wait and see.

Yes, you'd be mirroring the computer instead of a specific application that has restrictions on file formats.

Bandwidth consequently increases, but you can do it.

That's excellent. I can't see increased bandwidth being a huge concern if all devices are on a N network. Plus the fact that it's all of the LAN, means it's not hitting our paltry usage allowance from the ISP.